Miller was born to Dr. George "Sonny" Miller, a pathologist, jazz enthusiast and amateur recording engineer, and Bertha, a jazz-influenced singer. In 1950, the family moved to Dallas, Texas. His first guitar chords were taught to him by the legendary Les Paul, pioneer of the electric guitar and also Miller's godfather. While at St. Mark's School of Texas, Miller formed his first band, The Marksmen. Miller taught classmate Royce Boz Scaggs some guitar chords so he could join the band; Scaggs became better known by his nickname, Boz. Miller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 1960s, where he formed The Ardells. Scaggs joined the Ardells the next year. Ben Sidran was added to the Ardells as a keyboardist the following year. Miller was only sixteen when he started college, and dropped out six credit hours shy of a literature degree. Les Paul encouraged young Miller to utilize his prodigal talents, and much of Miller's success has been attributed to Paul's tutelage during his childhood and teenage years.
Prior to forming the Steve Miller Band, Miller was in a band with Barry Goldberg called the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band. They formed in 1965, and released one single, before Miller left the band.
In 1968, Miller formed the Steve Miller Band, with Miller handling vocals, and released an album, Children of the Future, the first in a series of discs rooted solidly in the psychedelic blues style that dominated the San Francisco music scene at the time. Scaggs would leave the band after a couple of albums. Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace and Number 5 followed. These albums performed respectably on the album charts but failed to yield a hit. This first period in Steve Miller's music formed part of double album compilation "Anthology" which includes a guest appearance on drums by the then Beatle Paul McCartney on the song "My Dark Hour".
1973's The Joker marked the start of the second phase of Miller's career: more pop-oriented and simplistic, the album featured a number one hit in the U.S. in the title track as well as several other popular tunes. In fact, "The Joker" hit Number One on the UK singles chart in September 1990 after it was used on a television commercial.
Miller followed up The Joker with Fly Like an Eagle in 1976 and Book of Dreams in 1977. This pair of albums represented the peak of Miller's commercial career, both reaching the top echelons of the album charts and spawning a seemingly-endless series of hit singles, including "Rock'n Me", "Take the Money and Run", "Jet Airliner" and "Jungle Love". While critics lambasted Miller for abandoning his more ambitious approach and socially-aware lyrics for simple pop-rock and derivative blues tunes, fans gravitated towards the catchy, melodic songs in great numbers, and the Steve Miller Band co-headlined a major stadium tour with the Eagles in 1977.
On the heels of this massive success, Miller took a long hiatus from recording and touring, emerging in 1981 with Circle of Love, an ambitious album possibly intended to appease critics of his new style. Sales were disappointing, however, and in 1982 he returned to the pop formula with another hit album, Abracadabra. This was Miller's last great commercial success; a series of collections, live albums and attempts to find a new style appeared sporadically, but after 1993 Miller gave up producing records altogether. However, he collaborated with Paul McCartney on the former Beatle's 1997 Grammy-nominated album, Flaming Pie.
Wild Mountain Honey
Steve Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well look what's been done
You can only see the stars
After a setting sun
You run for the money
You don't even know about wild mountain honey
Heal this lonesome man
Grow the tree of wholeness
In this desert land
Come on children
Now learn how to run
By heaven, the stars, the moon and the sun
Come on papa
Your end is the means
Don't trade your love and goodness
For the golden machine
You run for the money
You don't even know about wild mountain honey
Wild Mountain Honey by Steve Miller is a song that combines philosophy and reflection on life with the natural beauty of the world. The song begins with the singer addressing his mother and noticing the stars in the sky. He suggests that one can only appreciate the beauty of the stars after a long day that has come to an end. The singer then speaks about how too many people focus on gaining wealth and chasing success without taking the time to appreciate nature, in this case, the 'wild mountain honey.'
He speaks about a need to heal and become whole. 'Grow the tree of wholeness in this desert land' suggests that it is possible to find happiness and wholeness in a barren and lonely place. The singer then addresses the children, asking them to learn from their surroundings, including the stars, the moon, and the sun. Finally, he addresses the father, asking him not to sacrifice love and goodness for the sake of money and power. This is reinforced with the statement, 'you run for the money; you don't even know about wild mountain honey.'
In short, the song is about the importance of taking time to appreciate the natural beauty around us rather than running after success and material gain. It also encourages the listener to find wholeness in life, to learn and be open to new experiences, and to hold onto love and goodness rather than allowing oneself to be consumed by ambition and greed.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, mama
Expressing excitement or admiration towards a maternal figure.
Well look what's been done
Acknowledging the changes or accomplishments that have occurred.
You can only see the stars
After a setting sun
Only in times of darkness can one truly appreciate the beauty of the universe.
You run for the money
You don't even know about wild mountain honey
Focused solely on gaining wealth, without any regard for the natural beauty or wonder around us.
Come on mama
Heal this lonesome man
Grow the tree of wholeness
In this desert land
A plea to a maternal figure to provide comfort and guidance in life's difficulties.
Come on children
Now learn how to run
By heaven, the stars, the moon and the sun
Encouraging the younger generation to explore the natural world and find their own path.
Come on papa
Your end is the means
Don't trade your love and goodness
For the golden machine
Advising an older generation to prioritize love and happiness over material possessions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE MCCARTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevegant7286
This is 70's magic! Just went out and got this CD and it's spectacular, every song is AWESOME!
Ooh, mama
Well, look what's been done
You can only see the stars
After a setting Sun
You run for the money
You don't even know about wild mountain honey
Come on, mama
Heal this lonesome man
Grow the tree of wholeness
In this desert land
Come on, children
Now learn how to run
By heaven, the stars
The moon and the sun
Come on, papa
Your end is the means
Don't trade your love and goodness
For the golden machine
You run for the money
You don't even know about wild mountain honey
@chetpomeroy1399
When I first heard this as a 16-year-old in 1976, I was mesmerized; entranced! In fact, in hearing this now I still am, almost 50 years later!
@wolfwing1
hehe same I heard it when I was like 3-4 around 1978 or so and just love the whole album.
@wolfwing1
I wanted to hear serenade and fly like a eagle so much, my dad just bought me the CD eheh.
@davidcompton1264
One of his most psychedelic songs........I can almost trip to it straight...........😊😊
@kraigstenberg9094
Right there with ya!
@kenperkins7921
More super 70s to make life a LOT BETER!
@tbones1289
My first boyhood crush was a lady who watched my brother, sister and myself when my parents went out for a evening or went out of town.We had many family gatherings thru the years and I had always thought this lady was the most beautiful women I had ever seen. When I was a teenager I worked up the courage to ask her to dance with me at one of our family gatherings and I picked this song to dance with her. My Heart almost leaped right out of my chest, I was so scared she would see how I felt, but it was one of the more Joyful memories that I have of my youth. Just a magical song which always brings back that memory of the dance I shared with her. Thank you Steve Miller and Thank you Sue!!
@rickkoleyahoocom
What a great song to pick, thank you for the smile.
@boffo63
Crushing the Crush, epic!
@ParasiteZappers
I like to listen whilst feasting on beans with ham hogs.
They're powerful .